Care and Maintenance

My Pavers Look Great - Now What?

Now that your pavers or decorative concrete have been sealed, they look great! What can I do now to make sure they
continue to look their best? Well, it's no secret that everything looks better and lasts longer with proper care and maintenance, so here is what you need to do.

Low-Pressure Rinse
Naturally, there is going to be the occasional debris that gets onto the surface such as dirt, grass clippings, dust, pollen,
tree debris, bird droppings, etc. You are going to want to give your surface a low-pressure rinse with your garden hose on
occasion. You should use a "fan" or "shower'' pattern, and avoid using higher pressure "jet" patterns as this may loosen the
joint sand between your pavers or travertine. If the debris is left to accumulate, it can create an environment for organic
growth, so you are going to want to keep an eye on them throughout the year.

Mold, Mildew, and Algae
Now that your surface has been sealed, you're going to get great protection against mold, mildew, and algae penetrating
into the pores of your surface. However, with our tropical climate, there is always a possibility that organic growth may still
occur on the surface of sealer. Especially where water tends to pool due to poor water drainage, or where constant dirt
and mulch tends to wash out from flower beds onto the surface. The simplest and most effective way to remove organic
growth is to treat with liquid pool chlorine (do not use powder chlorine). Mix 1 part chlorine to 2 parts water (Example: half a
gallon of chlorine with one gallon of water). Apply using a spray bottle, pump sprayer, or watering can. Make sure to wear
protective clothing, gloves, and eye protection. Let it sit on the surface for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse off thoroughly
with low pressure from a garden hose to not leave any chlorine residue on the surface. For decorative concrete, you may use a SOFT
bristle brush or mop (This is perfectly safe for a sealed surface). NEVER USE MURIATIC or SULFURIC ACID as this could
damage the sealer and surface. Multiple applications may be required depending on the severity or you can increase liquid
chlorine mixture and decrease water.

Weed Growth
Typically, our clients experience 85-90% reduction in weed growth, however, every situation is different and some things
such as weed growth is beyond our control and as such, weeds are not covered as part of our warranty. If you do see
weeds, you're going to want to treat them as soon as possible as they can spread quickly and become a big problem. You
will want to use caution to not get any on your grass and use sparingly along edges of driveways, walkways, etc.

Sand Wash Out
Our process of flood coats is the very best at stabilizing the joint sand, however, some sand wash-out will occur and is to
be expected where heavy water flows or pools like near downspouts, and where water drips from the overhead cage, lanai, or
roof. If you notice some sand settling or washing out, it is really nothing to worry about. However, if it progresses, we
recommend using a coarse angular sand such as "pool filter sand" which can be bought at Home Depot. Spread a small
amount on the area and sweep into joints. Sweep or shop vac off the excess sand.

No time for all that?

Get a Brook Pressure Washing Maintenance Program

We understand the value of our clients' properties, along with the level of care and time that is required to properly maintain
their surfaces. Our program will keep your surface looking great and take the work and worries out of your hands.

With our maintenance program, we will do a thorough inspection, applying a sodium hypochlorite solution, soft wash of
surface, as well as replacing sand as needed. This is typically done every year, but frequency can be adjusted to meet your
needs.

Our recommended maintenance plan:
1. Annual cleaning of pavers at 10% of the total cost of the initial sealing. This would consist of a chemical
soft-wash of the pavers.
2. During year 2 or 3, pavers and joints will be touched up with sand and a coat or two of sealer is applied at 65% of the
total cost of initial sealing.